Car construction



March 18, 1941. M. C;I BLEST ETAL 2,235,795

CAR cNs'rRUoTIoN v Filed March '7, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 March 18, 1941. Mc. BLEsT ETAL CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W, '//I ATToR y FIQIO M. C. BLEST E'l'fAL` March 18, 1941.

` GAR coNsTRuoTIoN Filed laren '7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 o o o o\o O o o o o\o o o Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR CONSTRUCTION Pennsylvania Application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,738

1o claims. (c1. 10s- 272) Our invention pertains to railroad car construction in general and specifically to a welded construction for carrying heavy concentrated loads suspended above the car iioor.

In and around steel mills a special type of car is used in transporting hot cinder and sla-g from furnaces to the slag dump. These cars have previously been designed to handle one or more cinder pots. The oars are essentially platform cars provided with. spaced trunnion stands engaged by trunnions on opposite sides of the slag pot to support the pot between the stands and above the car iioor so that the pot may be tilted upon its trunnions to discharge the hot cinder and slag at the dump.

Should these cars be designed to support but a single pot, the resultant length of a train of such cars necessary to transport a plurality of pots is too great to permit convenient handling in and about the steel mill. For this reason these cars have been designed to carry two, and even three, pots. The pots are of cast metal and are of themselves very heavy. A pot loaded with cinder or slag imposes considerable weight upon the car, which weight is concentrated at the trunnion stands. The capacity of the pots has been contantly increased thereby imposing greater loads upon thel car, necessitating a very strong and massive construction which can not only safely support the load but can also resist distortion due to the intense heat of the lading, since the slag and cinder are often at a white heat when p-laced in the slag pot.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a car designed to carry two cinder pots, each pot being of 400 cubic foot capacity and when filled with lading weighing approximately 115,000 pounds each. This highly concentrated loading of the car at the trunnion stands, combined with the intense heat of the lading which is also transferred into the trunnion stands and the car body, requires a very rigid and sturdy construction to support the weight of the lading and to resist distortion from the heat. The car body and trunnio'n stands hereinafter described have been designed for that purpose.

The car must also successfully discharge the hot slag and cinder over the side of the car and we have provided a novel form of car side member which facilitates discharge of the hot lading over the side of the car when the slag pot is tilted.

One object of our invention is to provide a car for transporting a plurality of cinder pots,

which car is relatively short in length and of sturdy construction.

Another object oi' our invention is to provide a car of the character described with welded trunnion stands of a novel design which facilitates fabrication and attachment to the car floor.

A further object of our invention is to provide a car of the character described with side members which facilitate discharge of the lading.

These and further objects of the invention will be made apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification in which Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a car embodying the invention; Fi-g 2 shows in end elevation the car of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a section through the car taken on lines 3--3 of Fig. 1 to illustrate construction of the connection between adjacent trunnion stands; Fig. 4 shows a section through the car on lines 4 4 at the car bolster; Fig. 5 shows a section through the trunnion stands at lines 5--5 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the construction of the trunnion stand; Fig. 6 shows a section through the car on lines 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows a section through the car at lines l--l on Fig. 2 illustrating the sloping face of the center trunnion stands; Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive show details of construction at the respective lines on Figs. 3, 4 and 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the car underframe comprises 1a pair of spaced center sills l preferably of fish belly design extending from end to end of the car.` Attached to the sills l adjacent each end thereof and extending laterally from each side thereof are holsters 2 connected by a bottom tie plate 3 to which is secured the usual truck center plates 4. At each side of the car and extending substantially the length of the sills I are heavy plate members 5 sloping outwardly and downwardly and secured to correspondingly sloped end faces of the bolsters 2. At each end of the car center sills l are end sills li, preferably of channel shape, with their anges disposed outwardly and the webs thereof lapping the ends of the side members 5 to which they are secured by means of angle members 'l disposed on opposite sides of members 5. A heavy floor plate 8 disposed longitudinally of the car between the side members 5 is supported upon the sills I, bolsters 2, and end sills 6. This floor plate 8 is preferably welded at each side edge thereof to the side members 5 throughout length of the floor plate and riveted to the center and end sills. The floor plate at the bolsters 2 are preferably riveted tothe center sill top flanges 9 and the flanges l@ of the bolsters 2. Each bolster bottom cover plate 3 has an extension 3a disposed against and preferably welded to the bottom face of each side member 5, providing a rigid tie between the side members 5 adjacent the bottom thereof at the bolsters. Each end of the bolster 2 adjacent member 5 has a connection thereto through the member I I, one flange of which is riveted to the bolster and the other ange is welded to the side member 5.

Intermediate the body bolsters 2 are cross ties I2 connecting the center sills I, car floor 8, and side members 5. When building a two pot car, the cross ties I2 are disposed beneath the adjacent connected faces of the center trunnion stands as in Fig. 1. These cross ties I2 are illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprise a web I3 having the members I4 secured thereto and to the oor plate 8. The members I5 connect the web I3 to the sill I and the members I6 connect the web I3 to the side member 5. Each web I3 on opposite sides of the sills I is connected to a bottom tie plate Il by means of members I8. When Ia three pot car is built I have found it desirable to have a cross tie I2 at the center of the car in addi tion to those disposed beneath the adjacent connected faces of the trunnion stands. Suitable auxiliary cross tie members I9 are also disposed beneath the sloping faces of the trunnion stands to reinforce the car floor and side members 5 at these points.

In a two pot car cross ties I9 are unnecessary at the sloping faces of the end trunnion stands as the bolsters 3 serve as an eiective substitute therefor. In a three pot car the necessary spacing of the trunnion stands makes necessary the use of members I8 beneath each sloping face of the end trunnion stands. These members I9 are preferably riveted to the stand and car floor and welded to the side member 5.

Trunnion stands for supporting the slag pots are located adjacent each end of the car and at opposite sides of the transverse center of the car. A slag pot is supported between each end trunnion stand and the adjacent intermediate trunnion stand. Obviously in a three pot car one pot is located at the center of the car and is supported entirely on intermediate trunnion stands. These trunnion stands are of welded construction and built up of metal plates assembled in a novel manner to facilitate Welding.

At each end of the car are the end trunnion stands comprising front and rear cover plates, rib plates connectingthe cover plates, and a top member to which the trunnion bearing is secured. The rear cover plate 25) is an integral member extending the full width of the trunnion stand and extending from the floor plate 3 to the top of the trunnion stand. rThis plate 20 may, if desired, be welded to the floor plate 8 but we prefer to provide the plate with a bottom flange 2l and rivet same to the floor plate 8 in order to more eiectively tie the trunnion stand to the oor plate and to the cross members below the floor plate where such cross members occur. Abutting the inner face of the rear cover plate 2U are rib plates 22 and 2S. These rib plates have bottom edges engaging the door plate 8 and opposite inclined side edges. The rear cover plate 20 conforms to the slope of the adjacent side edges of the said rib plates. The rib plates 22 are disposed in spaced relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the car and extend substantially vertically upward from the oor plate, The ribs 23 extend upwardly and outwardly from :ad-

jacent each. rib 22 to adjacent the top outer corner of the rear cover plate 2G. Obviously these rib plates when assembled as in Figs. 2 and 5 are readily accessible for welding both the side and the bottom edges oi the side faces to the cover plate 20 and to the floor plate 8. The top edges of ribs 22 and 23 are preferably disposed in a common horizontal plane and tied together by a top member 24 extending from side to side of the trunnion stand and on the opposite side of the rib plates from that of the cover plate 212|, The horizontal leg of member 25 being disposed across the tops of plates 22 and 23 is readily accessible for welding to both side faces of the rib plates and to the top oi the rear cover plate 2li. When the members are assembled in the manner described, the vertical, horizontal and overhead welds may be readily executed without the necessity for jigs or'icr tilting the work, the plate 20 serving to square the Work and the accessibility of the welds obviating the necessity for tilting the pieces. I prefer to cope the top of the side edges of the rib plates 22 and 23 adjacent the vertical leg 2B of the member 24 as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings so that the vertical leg 26 may be first welded to the rib plate 22 and 23 of the trunnion stand and thereafter lapped by the front cover plates which are secured thereto.

The side plates 2l and 28 may be assembled with the rear cover plate 2l] and are disposed inwardly from the side edges of the rear cover plate. By disposing the side plates 21 and 28 in this manner, and at this time, each side plate may be welded at both side faces to the cover plate 25, the oor plate 8 and top member 24. Y.

adjacent edge of the ribs to permit welding of the y side edges of the iront face of the cover plate sections to the adjacent faces of the rib plates. previously stated each of the `cover plate sections 29, 30 and 3l have their upper portion flanged' as at 29a, 30a and Sie, to overlap the vertical leg 26 of the top member 24 and arevwelded thereto. It will be observed from an examination of Figs. 2 and 7 of the `drawings that byreason of .the flanges of the front cover plate sections overlapping the vertical leg 26 of thev member 2t` they l must of necessity be spaced apart at the said` vertical leg and, if desired, may be welded to the leg 25 at these points. The bottom portions of the front cover plate sections 3l terminate between -the adjacent ribs 22 and 23 and do not extend to the floor plate 8. The cover plate sections 29 and 3l do, however, extend to the floor plate 8 and have flanges 29b and SIb provided at the bottom edges overlapping the floor plate 8 and the top ange of the end sill 6 and are riveted thereto, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The cover plate sections 29 and 30 have both side edges welded to the ribs 22 and 23. The cover plate sections 3l have only one side edge weld-ed to the rib 23, `the outer edge overlaps the side plate sections 2l and 28 and are welded thereto. To complete the trunnion stand a trunnion bearing member 32 is mounted on the horizontal leg 25 of the top member 24. vThis trunnion bearing member may be secured to the member 24 in any suitable and desirable manner.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that we `have provided a totally enclosed trunnion stand with internal ribs and of such a construction that all adjacent members are connected by readily formed llet welds securing the component parts of the trunnion stand in relation in such a manner as to develop the full strength of the members at the connections. The trunnion stand has a full bearing engagement with the floor plate 8" at all load carrying points of engagement.

\ As illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and l1, the center trunnion` stands are similar to the end trunnion stands in the manner of assembly with the addition of a connection between the adjacent rear cover plates and certain modifications n the cover plates and ribs as hereinafter set forth.

Each center trunnion stand comprises a rear cover plate 33 extending the full width of the trunnion stand and provided with a bottom rlange 34 riveted to .the floor plate 8 and to the underlying crossbearer i2. Thebody of the cover p1ate33 is preferably vertically disposed in relation to the oor plate 8. The center ribs 35 and inclined ribs 33, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, have their rear and bottom edges welded to the rear cover plate 33 and to iloor plate 8 respectively, as were the corresponding ribs in the end trunnion stands; The top edges of the ribs 35 and 33 are in a common horizontal plane and `connected by the horizontal leg 38 of the top member 3l. The vertical leg 39 of said top member preferably overlaps the rear cover plate 33 and -is welded thereto. The front cover plate of the intermediate trunnion stands is formed of the sections 43, 4l and 42 which are assembled with the adjacent ribs 35 and 36 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the end trunnion stands. The center section 40 and end sections 42 of the cover plate have bottom iianges 431 and 42h respectively, riveted to the floor plate 8 and `to the underlying intermediate cross tie I9. As in the end trunnion stands, side plates 43 areprovided `for the intermediate trunnion stands and are welded in place in a manner similar to that described in connection with the side plates 2l of the end trunnion stands.

Connecting the adjacent rear cover plates 33 of the intermediate trunnion stands is an angular member 44 disposed in spaced relation to the iioor plate 3 with the legs of the angle inclined downwardly toward the floor plate 3 and the ends of the member welded to the adjacent intermediate trunnion stands rear cover plates 33. Disposed beneath the member 44 is a substantially inverted V shaped member having its apex portion bearing beneath the legs of the member 44 and the side arms oi the V shaped member extending to the floor-plate 3. This inverted V shaped member may be oi one piece of metal but we prefer to form it of two pieces, each comprising a body portion 45 having a top flange 46 disposed beneath one leg of the member 44 and a bottom flange 41 engaging and riveted to the floor plate 8. To avoid overlapping the bottom flange 34 of the end cover plate 33 we prefer to cut out the end portions of the iiange 41 so as to clear the iiange 34. This construction is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The opposite ends of the body portions 43 and flanges 4t of the inverted V shaped member may be welded to the rear cover plates 33. Overlying the member 44 is another inverted substantially V shaped member having its apex portion embracing the member 44 and its side arms terminating in iianges overlapping the ricer plate 3. This latter member may also be made of one piece of metal but I prefer to form it of two iiat plates 43 terminating in bottom flanges 49. The ends of the member 48 disposed adjacent the end cover plates 33 are welded thereto, the top edge of the member 43 is welded to the member 44 and the flanges 49 are riveted to iioor plate 8. As in the end trunnion stands', except for attachment to the iioor plate 8, we have provided intermediate trunnion stands of Welded construction assembled in a manner whereby the component parts of the stand are readily accessible for welding. As in the end trunnion stands suitable trunnion bearings 5|) are secured to each top member 3'! of the intermediate trunnion stands.

In the foregoing we have described and illustrated the invention as applied to a two pot car. We have also indicated an obvious mode of modiiying the car to accommodate three such pots.

Each of the trunnion stands has been described along with a method of assembling same which has been found to be advantageous in se- -curing a full bearing at the oor plate and between the component members forming the stand. The described method provides for assembling the trunnion stands upon the car iioor and facilitates the weld connections between the members and the car oor. This method has one distinct advantage over assembling the stands in a jig and erecting the stand upon the iioor plate. This latter method not only makes it dilcult to obtain a full bearing for the internal ribs upon the floor plate but makes it impossible to secure them to the oor plate. Each trunnion stand by means of the internal ribs and side plate transmits into the strong center and side members of underframe the load imposed upon the stand.

The strong slab side members serve a dual purpose. They not only function as side members of the underframe in carrying the load imposed upon the floor plate but also serve as a shed plate for the lading, a stop for the tilting pot and a shield for the truck frames. By welding the fioor plate and side slabs throughout the length thereof distortion from the heat and Weight of lading is prevented, and by welding the cross ties to the side slab obstructions on the front face of the slab which would tend to impede flow of the slag is prevented.

The slag pots indicated by the letter A have trunnions B engaging the trunnion bearings on top of the trunnion stands to support the po-ts on the stands and trunnions C which are engaged by the crane in placing and removing the pots from the car. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the pot A is shown in normal position and is indicated by A in tilted position.

The foregoing description and drawings are for the purposes of illustration only and show what is now the preferred form of the invention. It will be understood, however, that to those skilled in the art many obvious modifications will be apparent and we do not limit our invention to the exact form as shown and described except as made necessary by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car of the character described, in combination, a car floor, spaced trunnion stands mounted on said floor, a tiltable lading container supported upon said trunnion stands and above CII said iioor, and a car underframe supporting said iloor and including inclined side members providing a stop for said lading container when in tilted position and a shed plate for the lading.

2. In a car of the character described, in combination, an underframe comprising center sills, end sills, a metal floor plate extending from end sill to end sill and secured to the center and end sills, and an outwardly and downwardly disposed side member connecting the end sills at each side of the floor plate, said side members being disposed outwardly of said door plate and extending adjacent same for welding the side member to the floor plate throughout the length thereof, trunnion stands spaced longitudinally of said underfrarne and a slag pot tiltably supported in spaced relation to said floor plate between each pair of trunnion stands, said underframe side members providing an abutment for said pot when in tilted position and a shed plate for the lading within the pot.

3. In a car of the character described having spaced pot supporting stands, an underframe comprising fish belly center sills extending continuously from end to end of the car, end sills disposed across opposite ends of the center sills with the vertically disposed webs of the end sills secured to the center sills and terminating in outwardly disposed top flanges, a relatively thick floor plate connecting said sills and extending from side to side of the car, relatively wide and thick slab members at each side of the car connecting the said end sills and floor plate, said slabs being inclined downwardly and outwardly from the floor plate to act as shed plates for lading within said pots, transverse sills spaced on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the car providing support for the pot supporting stands and extending the full depth of said side slabs, bolster members adjacent each end of the car for connecting opposite side slabs and having end portions of less depth than saidside slabs, a tie plate beneath each bolster member for connecting the bolster member, center sills and side slabs, each said tie plate being provided with integral end portions extending below the bolster ends and along said side slabs for substantially the whole depth thereof.

Li. In a car of the character described having spaced pot supporting stands, an underframe comprising center sills, inclined slab side sills and end sills connecting said side and center sills, a relatively heavy oor plate adjacent each end and at the center of the car being supported by the center sills and connecting opposite side sills beneath each said stands, transverse sills between each said side sills at each end of each said pot stands and beneath the floor plate, said transverse sills at one end of the end trunnion stands serving as bolster members and having end portions of less depth than the side sills, and tie plates beneath said bolster members between said side sills and extending downwardly along the said side sills to adjacent the lower edges thereof.

5. In a car of the character described, a wholly enclosed welded trunnion stand comprising a substantially flat plate base extending from side sill to side sill, an integral cover plate extending from side sill to side sill upon said base plate and extending upwardly therefrom, reinforcing rib members vertically disposed above the center sills of the car upon the base plate and extending to the top edge of said cover plate, weld connections between said rib members and the cover and base plates, rib members extending upwardly from said center sills to the outer upper edges of said cover plate and terminating inwardly from the adjacent side edges thereof, weld connections between said latter ribs and the base and cover plates, an angularly shaped top cover plate and bearing member having a substantially horizontal leg disposed upon and extending from side to side of the top edge of said end cover plate and welded thereto and to the tops of said rib members, the remaining leg of said top cover member overlapping and welded to the free edges of said rib members, cover plate sections disposed at each side of each said ribs and below the free edges of said ribs, each said sections extending from rib to rib and from said base plate to said angularly shaped horizontal member and having a top flange portion overlapping the said angularly disposed leg of that member, weld connections between the edges of said cover plate sections and the adjacent faces of said ribs and the angularly disposed leg of the bearing member, and end plates disposed between said integral cover plate and end cover plate sections inwardly of the free edges thereof and welded thereto and to the top and bottom cover plates.

6. A wholly enclosed llet welded load supporting structure comprising suitably formed and vertically spaced top and bottom plate members extending from side to side of the structure, an integrally formed end wall member having vertically opposite edge portions connecting said top and bottom plate members and extending from side to side of the structure, fillet weld connections between said end wall and top plate member, suitable reinforcing rib members each connecting said top, bottom and end wall members and welded thereto, plate sections extending between said top and bottom members and rib members to form the other end wall of the structure and disposed below the free edges of said rib members, and weld connections between said plate sections and the rib and top members, and side cover plates extending between said top and bottom members inwardly from the adjacent free edges of said end cover plates and welded thereto.

7. In a car of the character described, an integral enclosed welded trunnion stand comprising a base member providing a bearing and attaching surface for the body of said stand and having its central portion supported by the car center sills, an integrally formed end wall member secured along its bottom edge to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom and forming with the base plate a means for squaring and attaching the remaining members of the stand, a plurality of rib members having their top edges spaced along the top edge of said integral end wall member and their bottom edges engaging the central portion of said base plate, llet weld connections between one side edge of each of said ribs and the inner face of said end wall member, and fillet weld connections between the bottom portions of said ribs and said ibase plate, a top bearing member fillet welded to the top edge of each rib and welded to said integral end member, an end wall formed of plate sections extending between said top and bottom bearing members and disposed inwardly of the free edges of said rib members to form the remaining end closure wall, said plate sections being fillet welded at the side edges thereof to the adjacent rib members, and similarly disposed side closure members connecting the-ends of said enclosure walls to complete the trunnion stand.

8. In a car of the character described, a welded trunnion stand for supporting adjacent ends of two cinder pots, comprising a base plate supported by the longitudinally disposed car underframe members, longitudinally spaced upwardly extending plate wall members supported by said base plate, an inverted substantially V-shaped tie member disposed longitudinally of the car for connecting said wall plates and supported upon the base plate at the car center sills, a second inverted V-shaped tie member connecting said wall plates and supported on the first-named tie plate with the free ends of the arms of the second tie member connected to the base plate at the side edges thereof adjacent the longitudinal side sills of the car, longitudinally disposed and transversely spaced rib members extending from the top edges of said wall members to the base plate at the car center sills, and transversely disposed top bearing members secured to each said end wall members and the associated rib members.

9. In a car of the character described, a wholly enclosed welded trunnion stand comprising a base plate forming a portion of the car oor, a trunnion bearing receiving plate vertically spaced from said base plate, an integrally formed end wall member having vertically opposite edges disposed adjacent said base and bearing receiving plates respectively and bearing on said base plate,

suitable reinforcing rib members extending upwardly from the base plate to the bearing receiving plate and llet welded to both said plates and to the integrally formed end wall member, plate sections extending between said base and bearing receiving plates and the said rib members, said plate sections being disposed below the free edges of said rib members to form the remaining end Wall and llet weld connections between said plate sections and the adjacent rib members and the bearing receiving plate, and side cover plates connecting and welded to the adjacent opposite ends of said end wall plates.'

10. In a car of the character described, a Welded trunnion stand comprising a base plate supported by the car center sill structure and extending transversely thereof, a vertically disposed integral wall plate secured to the base plate and extending transversely of the car, a suitably shaped trunnion bearing receiving plate vertically spaced from the base plate transversely of the car above said wall plate and welded thereto, suitably shaped rib members extending from the base plate at the center ysill structure to the bearing receiving plate and spaced longitudinally of the bearing receiving plate, fillet. Weld connections between each said rib member and the base plate, the wall plate, and the bearing receiving plate.

MINO-T C. BLEST. HAROLD E. ABKOWITZ. 

